8) Edwardsville
Edwardsville is one of the oldest towns in Illinois and has a petite population of just over 24,000 people. Located in Southern Illinois close to St. Louis, Edwardsville is considered one of the best towns in Illinois for families and those looking for a peaceful but entertaining retirement. The crime rate is half of the Illinois average and education standards rank in the top ten percent of the state. Happily housing prices are average and the cost of living is only slightly higher than the average of the rest of Illinois. Edwardsville in home to some impressive cultural and educational institutions such as the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, the Edwardsville Arts Centre and the offices of newspapers, Madison County Record and Edwardsville Intelligencer. There are over 85 miles of carefully-maintained scenic bikeway located around Edwardsville and a number of pleasant public parks. Overall Edwardsville is considered the 13th most liveable place to live in Illinois.
